Wayang Kulit is
performed the whole night commencing at about
09.00 PM to 05.00 AM. It needs around eight
hours to perform a plot of stories from Ramayana
or Mahabharata epic.
From Ramayana, for instance could be performed
the story (lakon) of Hanuman Duta for the whole
night. Duta means envoy, ambassador. This plot
tells the episode when Hanuman was assigned by
Rama to visit Alengka Kingdom to negotiate with
Rahwana to release Sinta peacefully.
The performance
could start with the birth of Hanuman, his
experiences while he was young showing how he
learned his knowledge, got supernatural power,
etc, until he met Rama and entrusted to act as
his envoy to Alengka.
In Alengka he tried
to accomplish his job in the best possible
manner, but jailed due to rejection of Rahwana.
He escaped from death penalty by burning the
city. He could see Sinta in her custody, found
out that she was safe and still loyal to her
husband. Hanuman finally could left Alengka and
reported result of his mission to Rama. The
performance of this story should end at 05.00
o'clock in the morning just before the sunrise.
Other plot (lakon) Rama Tambak (tambak means
dam). It tells the story when Rama with the help
of the monkey king Sugriwa and his soldiers were
making a bridge across the sea to access to
Alengka.
From Mahabharata there are
several plots could be performed for example,
Gatotkaca Winisuda (winisuda from the word
wisuda means to graduate or graduation
ceremony), tells the story when Gatotkaca was
assigned as Senopati (Chief Warrior) of Pandawa
in Bharatayuda. It could start with his days as
youngster, showing his supernatural power and
knowledge since his infant, his unreserved love
to Pandawa, his marriage until his appointment
as Senopati in Bharatayuda.
Other plot
showing more religious aspect is for example,
the story of Bima Suci (suci=holy),
telling how Bima overcome a lot of obstacles
when he searched the holy water of life. Until
finally he met with Dewa Ruci, a very small god
by build who told Bima the secret of life.
It is important to select the plot of story
before performance, usually in accordance with
the aim of a ceremony. For instance, someone is
assigned to be a new rector of a university, to
celebrate this occasion the university is
performing wayang kulit. The plot of story
considered as relevant is Lahire Wisanggeni (the
birth of Wisanggeni). Wisanggeni is one of the
Arjuna's sons, he has a very strong natural
power and clever since his birth. Above all, he
is honest, he would tell the truth to everybody
and he is very obedient to Pandawa and Gods.
The STAGE
It is needed to accommodate the performance,
sometimes it is an elevated stage around 0,5 to
1 meter higher than audience's chairs.
On stage there is a white cotton screen
illuminated by blencong (an oil lamp, hangs
above the dalang), nowadays, a spotlight is
used. From behind the scene, some audience watch
the performance. They see the shadow of the
puppets. Shadow in Javanese is wayang, from here
the words of wayang kulit come. The mass of the
audience sits in front of the screen to watch
the wayang played by dalang.
On the right and left side of dalang, the
wayang figures were arranged stuck to a banana
tree poles. And at the left and right ends of
the screen, banquets of bananas and leaves tree
are decorated. Behind dalang the gamelan music
instruments are arranged and played by the
wiyogo (gamelan players).
The chorus of some pesinden (woman
singers) as well as male singers are sitting
there too. Next to the left side of dalang,
there is a wooden box used by dalang to beat his
instruments. The 'keprak', several pieces of
small size iron plates hit by dalang by using
right foot. From time to time, dalang during
narration hit the wooden box with his hand by a
'cempolo' (wooden mallet).
  The SHOW
The
Gunungan (from gunung : mountain) or kekayon, a
mountain like leather puppet has an important
part in wayang performance. Symbolizing the
power of life of the creator, gunungan is used
to begin the play, change one scene to other or
imagine wind, obstacles, mountain, clouds or
seas.
Before commencing wayang performance, a
set of traditional offerings have been prepared
with incense burning, a prayer to God Almighty
is said in the hope the wayang performance
should be conducted safely and the message
should be accepted by the audience.
The pattern of wayang show begins with
court audience, followed by a battle between a
ksatria and giants (buto) lead by Buto Cakil.
The ksatria wins the battle by killing Buto
Cakil, it's symbolizing that every good efforts
should end successfully after eliminating the
obstacles.
Then, the appearance of the famous
Ponokawan, which is very comical and full of
laughter, songs and music. Nowadays, some guest
stars such as local famous singers and jokers
might take part in the interlude made the show
livelier.
Followed by some meeting and decisive
battles until morning. At the end a wooden
puppet (in Javanesse Golek) is played by dalang.
The word golek means to search, in that case the
audience is requested to search, the meaning of
the story which has been performed the whole
night. Gunungan is stuck in the middle of the
screen. |
DALANG (The Puppet Master or The Story
Teller)
After deciding the title of wayang story,
a dalang (puppet master) to perform
the show must be appointed. Dalang position is
very important, as he is the leader of the
performance. Sometimes dalang could be chosen
first, afterwards a consultation with him could
be held to choose an appropriate title.
Dalang comes from the words juru
udalan (juru : an expert, a skillful man -
udalan abbreviated to dalan, then becomes dalang
means to tell stories), so dalang is a story
teller.
Dalang is an overall artist. He must have a
broad knowledge of several disciplines of arts,
such as :
|
1. |
Mastering deeply the stories of wayang
Ramayana as well as Mahabharata, knows the
characters of wayang figures. |
|
2. |
Having a thorough knowledge of Javanese
philosophy and moral ethics, as Javanese
philosophy and moral ethics are
inter-connected, or might be almost similar. |
|
3. |
Having an accurate information in many
aspects of life in the country (or even
internationally in this era of information
and globalization). |
|
4. |
Having a good and clear voice, as he has to
imitate about 50 (fifty) wayang figures with
different voices. He has to explain every
occasion, which has or should happened. And
he has also to perfectly master the language
'high' and 'ordinary' used in dialogue, song
and narration. He has to be a good singer,
as he has to sing a lot during a
performance. |
|
5. |
Having the ability of preparing the
scenario, so that plot of stories should
flow smoothly, in accordance with standard
patterns. |
|
6. |
He has to
know
gamelan
(Javanese musical instruments) used to
accompany the show. He has also the capacity
of a conductor as he should command the
gamelan music; when it should begin and
stop, and he should ask the gamelan crew
what kind of music or song to be played.
|
|
7. |
He
has to lead the chorus of pesinden (women
singers), usually consists of three to five
singers and wira swara (male singers). |
|
8. |
He
has to be skillful to move the puppets
attractively. |
|
9. |
He
has to know how to make good jokes, at the
same time advising the audience unnoticeably.
|
This part of play occurred at midnight at
the Goro-goro episode, which last about one
hour. During that time the Ponokawan appears. At
most occasion the dalang plays a role as
mouthpiece of the sponsors. In a performance
organized by Agency of Family Planning, he
should arise the topics of Family Planning. In
front of the arm forces or police forces, he
should speak of leadership and discipline.
Before an audience in university he should speak
of knowledge, good conduct and the goals of
life.
In the village, he should speak about the
spirit of cooperation, development and any
topics, which should give optimism to the
villagers. The topics might be different, but
here are similarities; he should tell it
jokingly, interrupted by many songs, sung by the
pesinden - women singers, accompanied by gamelan
music. He should insert some advises on
morality, hard working and every deed must be
conducted properly not hurting other's feeling,
not breaking the laws, especially the highest
law such as the law of God.
Generally the Goro-goro time is full of
laughter and music, which make the audience
happy and entertained.
Last but not least a dalang must be a
healthy man or woman (nowadays, there are some
women dalang), with a good physical endurance
because dalang has to sit cross legged for eight
hours on a mat to perform wayang.
Lessons from Wayang Kulit Performance
|
1. |
On the top, it's
a lesson of morality, honesty, truth should
win against evil. |
|
2. |
One has to
choose what to do in accordance with his own
belief.
- Kumbakarna has to choose to fight
despite Rahwana's sinful deeds, not to
defend his brother but to defend his
country. "Right or wrong is my country".
- Wibisana, he chooses to defend the
absolute truth. A sin committed by his own
brother - the king, must be condemned. He
decides to join Rama, the right side.
|
|
3. |
It is
reflecting events in life.
- One must work hard decently before
attaining his goals.
- Lust of material wealth should
bring disaster to other people and at the
end should ruin his own life.
- Love affaires exist since ancient
time. But do not follow the wrong
examples, such as the one between Begawan
Wisrawa and Sukesi, Rahwana's parents.
|
|
4. |
Life
Purification.
A king gives up his own crown, goes to
solitude and lives as a Begawan to meditate,
purifying his soul to reach a true holiness. |
|
5. |
Everyone is
longing to live in a just (adil) and
prosperous (makmur) society, in the safe,
peaceful and secured situation with the
blessing of God Almighty. |
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